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Sacramento high-rise death linked to graffiti

Published on NewsOK
Modified: April 1, 2013 at 7:43 pm •
Published: April 1, 2013

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A man who was found dead hanging by a rope off an 18-story Sacramento high-rise appears to have been a graffiti tagger, Sacramento police said Monday.

People gather near 13th and J streets to watch firefighters as they recover the body a man hanging from a rope tied to a balcony. Fire officials said the man's death appears accidental. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Randy Pench) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT (REV-SHARE)

Fire Battalion Chief Marc Bentovoja said the man appears to have died accidentally of asphyxiation when he created a harness from the rope and lowered himself down the east side of the office building.

"From everything we can tell, he didn't have any special rope rappelling equipment on, climbing equipment or anything like that," he said. "He appeared to be looped into the rope."

Police department spokeswoman Michele Gigante said Monday afternoon that investigators found a can of spray paint on the part of a balcony where the ropes were anchored. A tool for etching glass was found on the ground below his body, she said.

Gigante said building surveillance showed the man entering the building alone on Sunday. Police believe he gained access to the roof of the nearly 240-foot building and lowered himself three floors down to the balcony before lowering himself again.